We are looking at planning a trip to Normandy in April. I don’t want to drive in Paris and we don’t intend to stay in the city this trip. Our goals are the Dday beaches, Rouen, Honfleur and Etreat. I’d like to take the train out and back (we can rent a car and/or do tours from a home base once there - we are ok with mixing that up). What are some good options? We are also ok with moving cities once if more practical (spending 4-5 days). Suggestions?
Posted by
880 posts
Depending on the order you want to visit, you could take the train to Caen, pick up a rental car and then base yourself in charming Bayeux for your base for the DDay sites. Then break it up by then staying in Honfluer or Rouen, returning your car in Rouen and then take the train from there back to the airport. The fee to pick up/drop off a car rental in locations within France is nominal.
If you have any interest in visiting Mont St Michel, we took the train from Paris to Rennes; picked up the rental car, then on to Bayeux, Honfluer, Rouen.
Posted by
Colorado Springs
2978 posts
We just returned from our own trip to Normandy and I agree completely with the suggestions of the previous posters.
Renting a car at the Caen train station (Hertz in our case) was seamless and the short drive over to Bayeux was straightforward. My only suggestion/caution is that when booking your accommodations in or near Bayeux that you sort out the matter of parking, which can be problematic in the city center unless your hotel has its own lot or has some sort of agreement with one of the many pay lots dotted around the town. We found that most of what had previously been free lots had gone to a 4 hour system, whereby you'll need to purchase a time card at a local shop or tobacconist to display on your dashboard. The parking is still free but is limited to the 4 hour max .. which can obviously be rather inconvenient. The only true free (unrestricted) lot we found was the one recommended by the folks at Overlord Tours (highly recommended BTW) along Bd. Marechal Leclerc - located about a 12 minute walk from the center.
In the FWIW department, we too had planned to use our car to revisit the DDay sites but found our Overlord tour (Band of Brothers) to be so comprehensive and thorough that we didn't feel the need to do so and concentrated on other attractions in the area.
Honfleur would be my choice too as a base for exploring not only the pretty little town but as jumping off point for the trip to Etretat.
Finishing up your trip in Rouen, returning the car there and returning to Paris by train makes the most logistical sense for being able to cover the ground you've mentioned.
Not that you asked, but my US credit card (Visa X) and my chip and pin debit card worked fine for paying the odd toll on the A13 and on the Pont Normandie getting up to Etretat - just tap and go in each case. Couldn't have been easier.
Posted by
Long Beach, Ca, usa
1307 posts
yoda_615,
As an add-on, when driving from Bayeux or Honfleur to Rouen, try and drive the Route des Abbayes and stop at the ruins of the Jumiege Abbey. They are very lovely, and the drive along D982 is also nice, and follows along the Seine for part of the way. You will go very near to Villequier, a small charming town right on the river, where there is the Victor Hugo Museum. All in all, a nice way to spend a few hours en route to Rouen.
Bon voyage!
Posted by
Corona del Mar, CA, USA
27 posts
Just returned from 3 1/2 weeks in France, the last week in Normandy. First went to Honfleur and stayed near the waterfront at Hotel Absinthe which solved the parking issue with 16 euro/day secure parking a couple of blocks from the hotel. This was perfect for enjoying the lovely Honfleur as well as day trips to Etretat, Fecamp, Le Havre. Then the remainder of the stay was centered on Bayeux but a little bit out in the country (10 min. drive into Bayeux) at Domaine de Prune gite/B&B with lots of room and plenty of free parking (and English speaking hostess, Nathalie). We were just about equidistant from Ste. Mere Eglise (don't miss this) on the west and the D-Day landing beaches to the east and always a short drive to waterfront and delicious seafood in small, quaint villages. The new and old museums in Caen, Arromanches and elsewhere have been spruced up and the area is looking better than ever due to the recent 80th anniversary celebrations of June 6, 1944 landings. And driving is a breeze in Normandy, none of the congestion associated with Paris (which we also experienced).